Quotes of the Day

I fear the fate of these brave soldiers 20 years from now [June 16]. In 2002 my brother Bill, a combat infantryman decorated with three Bronze Stars, took his life on the 34th anniversary of his return home from Vietnam. He was proud of his service but said that in order to survive, he saw and did awful things he could never talk about. I don't know what the answer is, but posttraumatic stress disorder and depression have to be treated with more than a Band-Aid like Prozac. The Department of Veterans Affairs needs every dollar it gets to care for these brave warriors, and the public needs to know this will have to continue for years to come.
RoseAnn Hassiepen-Hatfield, WHEATON, ILL., U.S.

The military needs to arrive at a consensus concerning proper mental-health care for troops. When I received a diagnosis of a mental illness in 2003 prior to an impending deployment, my military psychiatrist advocated for me. Despite my suggesting an alternative assignment to honor the terms of my contract, he recommended a medical discharge, giving me the opportunity to recover and develop the coping skills necessary to live a successful life. Not all military officers are so empathic. Had I been forced to deploy at that time, I know the stresses of being in a war zone would have exacerbated my symptoms, compromising the mission or, worse yet, my own life.
Anne Breitengross, VANCOUVER, WASH., U.S.

I believe that rather than merely offering drugs to our troops, we can give them the counseling they need via teleconferencing and even remote video conversations. The phone and Internet are terrific inventions. Let's put them to better use to support those who protect us all, at great personal cost.
Carolyn Reyno, SPRINGFIELD, VA., U.S.

One idea: scrap "don't ask, don't tell." The estimated 65,000 gays and lesbians wearing the nation's uniform are not able to confide in doctors, psychologists and other counselors without fear of dismissal — a wasteful impediment to achieving full mental health. Meanwhile, the loss of 12,000 competent gays and lesbians has needlessly lengthened the tours of duty of the rest of the force.
Nathaniel Frank, BROOKLYN, N.Y., U.S.

Our troops are repeatedly stress-cycled through a futile war, so we keep them "functioning" longer with mind-altering meds. Yet our hypocritical culture tries to prohibit most such drugs, other than alcohol and tobacco. If the soldiers' function is to find and kill the enemy, why not treat them to khat, crystal meth and crack? Like President Reagan reportedly said of kids' addiction to computer war games, at least their reflexes would be quicker.
Jon McPhee, ST. PETERSBURG, FLA., U.S.

Please Pass the Cockroaches
Re "Eating bugs": how about advocating for a more palatable vegetarian national future [June 16]? I've been a vegetarian for 37 years. I'm 61, 6 ft. 2 in., 185 lb. and healthy enough to compete in 100-mile mountain-bike races, ski, climb and dance all night with my wife. I've been living extremely well on rice and beans for protein, tofu, tempeh, fruits, greens, grains and 40 g of fiber daily. Meat and dairy products cause more obesity, heart disease and other ill-health consequences. Eat vegetarian for yourself and the planet! Join me on the starting line of the next mountain-bike race!
Frosty Wooldridge, WESTMINSTER, COLO., U.S.

How long will it be before bug activists complain that the insects are not humanely killed before cooking?
Julian Hoyle, CAMARILLO, CALIF., U.S.

The Future of the Internet
There is a new platform on the horizon. It's the mobile platform. Here in the U.S., we are far behind in the mobile revolution [June 16]. Europe is ahead of us, but the real cutting edge is in Asia. Powerful handheld computers with features such as wi-fi may be new to the U.S., but they've been available in other countries for a while. The rest of the world has already chosen the platform of the future, and it's Symbian.
Regan Coleman, AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.

If you read the Google disclaimer, they have the legal right to anything stored on their gmail, online apps, etc. Just remember that when you go for "free." Also, they have legal rights to sell any information allowed on there.
John Ruman, MANLIUS, N.Y., U.S.

Obama's Image
At a time when America's economic might and political credibility are faltering, Obama's ascendancy [June 16] is a boost. It is comforting to see that America is still a beacon when we aspire to a fair society where color and race don't matter.
Tsai King-Hang, HONG KONG

I don't know how you can consider a Senator with the most liberal voting record in the Senate, running in the primaries with the most liberal voting blocs in the country, an insurgent. That is illogical and just gilding the lily. Your near orgasmic joy at Obama is quite unseemly.
Tim Schubert, GLENVIEW, ILL. U.S.

Karen Tumulty has given us some interesting insights into the two Democratic campaigns. I'm curious about one thing though. How did a grassroots, bottom-up organization like Obama's maintain a consistent message, while a top-down, hierarchical organization such as Clinton's had so little consistency with their message? How do you turn your brand over 
 to the public yet still be able to manage it so completely?
Carrie Gartner, COLUMBIA, MO., U.S.

Coldplay Rocks
As a music journalist I take issue with Josh Tyrangiel's swipes at Coldplay, in both his preview of the new album [June 9] and his latest feature ("Hit Restart," [June 16]). Tyrangiel calls the British foursome "annoying," "crib-safe" and rockers who "pound listeners into submission." Give me a break. As if to defend his distaste, Tyrangiel trots out an absurd, less-than-articulate statement from Chuck Klosterman ("Coldplay is absolutely the s — iest f — ing band I've ever heard in my entire f — ing life"), and a pompous statement from the New York Times's Jon Pareles, who calls Coldplay "insufferable." Not only is Coldplay anything but insufferable, but their previous album, X&Y, was one of the best pop-rock albums of the new millennium. I'm expecting greatness again from Viva la Vida, especially with master producer Brian Eno at the helm.
Cameron Conant, NASHVILLE, TENN., U.S.

When critics rant about the success of Coldplay they give away the real reason they dislike them. Their music is clean. Critics say they want "hard and edgy" music when they really mean cursing and screaming. I am grateful to Coldplay for providing music that a 40+ mom can listen to without hitting the mute.
Elizabeth Fifielski, MERIDIAN, IDAHO, U.S.

A Starbucks Grows in Harlem
While Alex Altman's article will one day be considered prophetic for its facts and truth, a wider context might be needed [June 16]. Harlem's gentrification is no different from the gentrification occurring all over New York City. From bodegas turned Starbucks in the East Village to the Disneyfication of Times Square, pushing out the old and ushering in the new has been transforming our neighborhoods. The perpetrators? Real estate developers, the politicians and residents who desire progress in our city and those who can afford to pay the high rents and prices. Sadly, the effect of this progress has been to steal the heart and soul from the world's greatest city — but that heart will beat on.
Peter Edelson, NEW YORK CITY

What's wrong with lifting up a community and trying to make it better? I'm as nostalgic as the next guy, but sometimes change can stimulate growth, and in this case, it's change for the better.
Carmin Piccirillo, ELMWOOD PARK, N.J., U.S.

• Please Pass the Cockroaches; The Future of the Internet; Obama's Image